Liquid chromatograph

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to alleviate defects associated with the installation of a liquid container at a high position in a liquid chromatograph for analyzing a sample using a liquid. This liquid chromatograph is provided with: a first container for accommodating a liquid; a first pump for conveying the liquid from the first container to a second container; and a second pump for supplying the liquid accommodated in the second container to an analysis unit. The second container is disposed such that the bottom surface of the liquid in the second container is positioned above the liquid suction port of the second pump in the direction of gravity (referring to fig. 1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid chromatograph for analyzing a liquid using a separation column. Background Art

[0002] In a liquid chromatograph, a solvent is used when separating a sample. The solvent is contained in a solvent bottle, and gravity is generally used to deliver the solvent from the solvent bottle. Therefore, in a liquid chromatograph, the solvent bottle is disposed at a position higher in the gravity direction than a liquid delivery pump (e.g., claim 1 of patent document 1).

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent document 1: US9000360 B2 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] If the solvent bottle (liquid container) is placed at a higher position, the following problems will arise: (a) spilling of solvent may cause device failure; (b) when replacing the solvent bottle, heavy objects need to be transported to a higher position, which may cause concerns about operability and safety; (c) in terms of device layout, there will be constraints associated with the position of the solvent bottle.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to alleviate the inconvenience associated with installing a liquid container at a high position in a liquid chromatograph that analyzes a sample using a liquid.

[0009] Methods for solving problems

[0010] The liquid chromatograph disclosed in the present invention includes a first container for containing liquid, a first pump for conveying the liquid from the first container to a second container, and a second pump for supplying the liquid contained in the second container to the analysis unit, wherein the second container is arranged in such a manner that the bottom surface of the liquid in the second container is located above the liquid suction port of the second pump in the direction of gravity.

[0011] Effects of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, in a liquid chromatograph that analyzes a sample using a liquid, it is possible to alleviate the inconvenience associated with placing a liquid container at a high position. Other features, advantages, configurations, etc. of the present disclosure will become apparent by referring to the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a side view of the liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer 1 according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] <Implementation 1: Device Configuration>

[0016] The present disclosure relates to a liquid chromatograph. In the following embodiments, a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device formed by connecting the liquid chromatograph with a mass spectrometry analysis device is taken as an example for description.

[0017] Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1 in which a liquid chromatograph according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is connected to a mass spectrometry analysis device. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1 is a device for separating a sample by liquid chromatography and performing analysis processing such as mass spectrometry, and includes a first solvent bottle 111 (first container), a first auxiliary pump 112 (first pump), a first liquid reservoir 113 (second container), a first liquid delivery pump 114 (second pump), a sample injection unit 131, a separation column 132, and a detection unit 133.

[0018] The sample injection unit 131 receives a sample and each solvent, and supplies them to the separation column 132. The separation column 132 performs separation processing, and the detection unit 133 analyzes the sample by performing mass spectrometry.

[0019] The first solvent bottle 111 contains the first solvent. The first solvent bottle 111 is arranged at a position that is easily accessible to the user so that the user can refill the first solvent bottle 111 with the first solvent or replace the first solvent bottle 111 itself. If the first solvent bottle 111 is arranged at a higher position in the direction of gravity, the following problems will arise: (a) spilling the solvent may cause device failure; (b) when replacing the solvent bottle, heavy objects need to be transported to a higher position, so there are concerns about operability and safety; (c) in terms of device layout, there will be constraints associated with the position of the solvent bottle. Therefore, the first solvent bottle 111 is preferably arranged at a relatively low position in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1.

[0020] The first liquid reservoir 113 contains the first solvent supplied to the sample injection part 131. The first liquid delivery pump 114 adjusts the amount of the first solvent supplied to the sample injection part 131. The first solvent is transported from the first liquid reservoir 113 to the first liquid delivery pump 114 using the gravity acting on the first solvent. Therefore, there is a height difference of ΔH1 between the liquid suction port of the first liquid delivery pump 114 and the bottom surface of the first liquid reservoir 113 in the gravity direction. The bottom surface of the first liquid reservoir 113 is located at the top. The first liquid delivery pump 114 only needs to be able to transport the first solvent from the first liquid reservoir 113 to the sample injection part 131, and does not need to transport the first solvent in the opposite direction, so it does not need to have such a function.

[0021] In order to use gravity to deliver the first solvent from the first liquid reservoir 113 to the first liquid delivery pump 114, the first liquid reservoir 113 is arranged at a relatively high position in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis apparatus 1. Therefore, the first liquid reservoir 113 is arranged at a position higher than the first solvent bottle 111. The first auxiliary pump 112 delivers the first solvent from the first solvent bottle 111 to the first liquid reservoir 113.

[0022] The first solvent contained in the first liquid reservoir 113 is a solvent used inside the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1, so the user does not need to easily access the first liquid reservoir 113 to replenish the first solvent. Therefore, the first liquid reservoir 113 can be arranged in a place inside the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1 that is inaccessible to the user (for example, the seal needs to be unsealed in order to access it).

[0023] When a plurality of solvents are used for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, the same configuration as the first solvent bottle 111, the first auxiliary pump 112, the first liquid reservoir 113, and the first liquid delivery pump 114 may be configured for each solvent. Figure 1 , an example is shown in which a second solvent bottle 121, a second auxiliary pump 122, a second reservoir 123, and a second liquid delivery pump 124 are arranged to supply a second solvent. The distance ΔH2 in the gravity direction between the liquid introduction port and the reservoir bottom surface may be the same as or different from ΔH1.

[0024] <Implementation 1: Summary>

[0025] In the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1 of the present embodiment 1, the first auxiliary pump 112 delivers the first solvent from the first solvent bottle 111 to the first liquid reservoir 113, and the bottom surface of the first solvent contained in the first liquid reservoir 113 is located above the liquid suction port of the first liquid delivery pump 114 in the gravity direction. Thus, the first solvent is delivered to the first liquid delivery pump 114 by gravity, and the user can easily reach the first solvent bottle 111. Therefore, the following problems can be suppressed: (a) the cause of device failure when the solvent is spilled; (b) when replacing the solvent bottle, it is necessary to transport the heavy object to a higher position, so there are concerns about workability and safety; (c) in terms of device layout, there will be restrictions associated with the position of the solvent bottle.

[0026] Specifically, it can be described as follows. Since the first solvent bottle 111 is located at a relatively low position in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1, even if the first solvent is spilled when the first solvent is replenished or replaced, the possibility that the first solvent hits other devices, components, etc. in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1 is low. In addition, when implementing the replenishment and replacement, it is not necessary to push the first solvent bottle 111 to a higher position, so the operability and safety will not be reduced. Furthermore, the position where the first solvent bottle 111 is configured is not limited to the upper part of the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1, so the layout of each device and each component in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1 is less restricted. Therefore, the above-mentioned effect can be exerted.

[0027] <Implementation Method 2>

[0028] Figure 2 This is a side view of a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1 formed by connecting a liquid chromatograph of Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure to a mass spectrometry analysis device. Each solvent bottle, each liquid reservoir, and an analysis unit after a sample injection unit 131 are housed in a housing provided by the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1. The first solvent bottle 111 and the second solvent bottle 121 are housed in a lower space, and the first liquid reservoir 113 and the second liquid reservoir 123 are housed in an upper space. The space for housing each liquid reservoir is set as a housing 14.

[0029] The storage portion 14 is composed of, for example, a shelf and a drawer, and is sealed by a sealing member such as a screw. Therefore, the user cannot easily access the liquid reservoirs stored in the storage portion 14. For example, during regular maintenance work, the liquid reservoirs in the storage portion 14 can only be accessed when the operator removes the bolts and opens the storage portion 14.

[0030] The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis device 1 may also be provided with a weight sensor in order to control the timing of replenishing the solvent from the solvent bottle to the liquid reservoir. Figure 2In the embodiment, the weight sensor 141 measures the weight of the first liquid reservoir 113, and the weight sensor 142 measures the weight of the second liquid reservoir 123. When the weight of the first liquid reservoir 113 is less than a threshold value, the amount of the first solvent in the first liquid reservoir 113 is small. The first auxiliary pump 112 supplies the first solvent from the first solvent bottle 111 to the first liquid reservoir 113 when the weight of the first liquid reservoir 113 is less than a threshold value. The same action is performed when the weight of the second liquid reservoir 123 measured by the weight sensor 142 is less than a threshold value. In this way, the action of replenishing the solvent from the solvent bottle to the liquid reservoir can be automated. The action of the auxiliary pump can be controlled by an appropriate control device, etc., or it can be configured so that the auxiliary pump itself controls its own action.

[0031] <Regarding Modifications of the Present Disclosure>

[0032] The present disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the aforementioned embodiments are embodiments described in detail in order to easily explain the present disclosure, and do not necessarily need to have all the described structures. In addition, a part of a certain embodiment can be replaced with the structure of other embodiments. In addition, the structure of other embodiments can also be added to the structure of a certain embodiment. In addition, with respect to a part of the structure of each embodiment, a part of the structure of other embodiments can also be added, deleted or replaced.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the liquid chromatograph uses two solvents (a first solvent and a second solvent) and the storage unit 14 stores the two solvents. However, the number of solvent types is not limited thereto, and the present disclosure can be applied when any type of solvent is used.

[0034] Description of Reference Numerals

[0035] 1: Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis device,

[0036] 111: First solvent bottle,

[0037] 112: First auxiliary pump,

[0038] 113: First reservoir,

[0039] 114: First liquid delivery pump,

[0040] 131: Sample injection part,

[0041] 132: separation column,

[0042] 133: Detection department.

Claims

1. A liquid chromatograph, characterized in that: A liquid chromatograph for analyzing the sample, comprising: a first container containing a liquid for separating the sample, a first pump that transfers the liquid from the first container to a second container, and a second pump for taking out the liquid contained in the second container from the second container; The second container is arranged so that a bottom surface of the liquid in the second container is located above the liquid suction port of the second pump in the gravity direction.

2. The liquid chromatograph according to claim 1, characterized in that The second container is disposed at a position where the liquid in the second container can be transported from the second container to the second pump by utilizing gravity acting on the liquid in the second container.

3. The liquid chromatograph according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first container is configured so that at least one of the following conditions is met: the first container can be replaced by a user, or the first container can be refilled with the liquid by a user.

4. The liquid chromatograph according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first container is arranged below the second container in the gravity direction.

5. The liquid chromatograph according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second container is arranged at a position which cannot be directly touched by a user.

6. The liquid chromatograph according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second container is housed in a housing portion of the liquid chromatograph. The housing portion is sealed by a sealing member so as to be inaccessible to a user.

7. The liquid chromatograph according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid chromatograph further includes a sensor for measuring the weight of the second container containing the liquid. When the weight is less than a threshold, the first pump transfers the liquid from the first container to the second container.

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